Edwin Muir’s Local Attitude towards Globalization: A Brief Look at “The Horses”

The rise of imperialism has given birth to the notion of globalization that connotes several ideas: First, threat to national boundaries; second, rapid technological progresses; and third, the policy of homogenization or uniformity. Technological progresses have been regarded as the main threat on national identity and the main cause of global identity. The discursive reflection of globalization can be studied in literature and best in poetry. Because the local aspect of English poetry places more emphasis on the significance of poetry in the latter half of the 20th century, “The Horses” by the Scottish Edwin Muir (1887-1959) can be an excellent study of the poet’s local attitude towards globalization. Although Muir wrote in English, he never lost sense of regionality and national identity. He was always concerned about feeling in one language and thinking in another. This study is an attempt to show Muir’s view, as a localized figure, about globalization and the aftermath of technological progresses with a brief look at “The Horses” offering possibility of nationalism. Key words: Edwin Muir; “The Horses”; Globalization; Technology; National identity